Atlanta -- The spectacular success of Spelman College's fundraising efforts has caused many in the higher education world -- particularly at the historically Black colleges and universities -- to take notice. As a result, some institutions have reevaluated their own efforts to raise money.

"There have been a number of institutions to contact us," said Billie Sue Schulze, vice president for institutional advancement at Spelman. "Some have called with a specific question or two, and some are actually coming to the campus to meet with us." Some of the more frequent questions asked of Spelman include:

How did Spelman identify prospective major donors?:

What size development staff did it take to meet its goal? (Said Schulze: "People are really interested in that one."); and

How was Spelman able to inspire such an outpouring of alumni support? Syvius Moore, vice president for institutional advancement at the Morehouse School of Medicine, agreed it was hard to ignore Spelman's campaign and its significance.

"It was an affirmation for historically Black institutions," said Moore. "It says there is a place for Lis in the academic environment. And the greater public has acknowledged that in ways that count with their dollars. To raise $114 million, you don't do that with $50 checks."

In approaching prospective major donors, "obviously they didn't do it in a bashful manner," Moore said. "Historically, maybe our institutions have not been as aggressive as we should have been. Spelman's was a boldness backed with integrity of purpose. And it was responded to."

Suzanne Mink, a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, agreed that an important lesson for other institutions is, "Don't be afraid to be aggressive -- leaving no stone unturned. The lesson here is to ask, to ask vigorously, and to ask for the highest possible donation."